Live for today, but makes sure you have fun and smile along the way.
Look for the joy in everything, even if you have been there a thousand times.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

ANZAC

Today is ANZAC Day in New Zealand, April 25.
We get a Public Holiday today, well not this year as it fell on a Sunday, but any other year we get the day off, where ever it falls in the week. They actually passed an Act in 1949 that forbid the date from being 'Mondayised' meaning it had to be celebrated on the date, not moved to the closest Monday due to a weekend.

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I (1915).
Although it now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in all military operations for their countries.

Ben has just had a very small intro to the day at school.
They touched on it very briefly and are walking to the Cenotaph tomorrow morning with School to view all the wreaths.
As the park where the services are held is not too far from us we decided to take the boys to one of the services today. The 10am friendly service.
Most people get up and go to a dawn service, you know the type, up at 5am etc etc.
Not quite my type of thing, still sleeping at that time! Although this morning we did hear the plane that flew low over our area on the way to the service.

I decided that we had to dress nice for the service as I wanted to instill in the boys how special and important this remembrance is.

How we are lucky to have the ability to remember those that fought for us.

And how proud we are of those people.

I don't feel that this service is something you wear your scruffy jeans and t-shirt too, although I won't judge people by what they wear to the service, that is just my opinion.

The boys were very good at the service that was kept very simple and basic and was well attended by lots.

I think Ben will have fun visiting the Cenotaph tomorrow having been to a service today.

I look forward to taking them to a service again another year. This was actually my first service I have attended for ANZAC Day in the 12 years of living here, funny what you go out of your way to do when you have children just so they can experience important things to their country.

Sadly though, a RNZ Air Force Helicopter crashed on its way to a service in Wellington this morning. Killing 3 of the 4 on board.